Despite the Obama administration’s indications that Chrysler boss Bob Nardelli’s job is safe in the wake of the ouster of GM CEO Rick Wagoner, some are placing bets on how long the former Home Depot chief will last.

In spite of the apparent endorsement the administration gave Nardelli by not pushing him out, a number of factors could lead him to jump ship — and just one of them is tied to Uncle Sam.

First, with Wagoner gone, attention will now shift to Nardelli, who so far has been given a free pass as an industry newbie who was brought on in 2007 by the automaker’s majority owner, buyout firm Cerberus Capital Management.

To be sure, he was helped yesterday by Chrysler saying it moved closer to sealing a partnership with Italy’s Fiat, in which Chrysler would give up a 20 percent stake and set the stage for the US government to inject $6 billion of capital into the struggling company.

If Chrysler is forced to go into Chapter 11, Nardelli could potentially head for the exit given he’s publicly said he thinks a bankruptcy could ruin the company’s image.

Compensation could also loom large. When Nardelli joined Chrysler 1½ years ago, he vowed to accept a $1 annual paycheck. Most observers said he took the paltry salary on the assumption he’d get a big payday if he turned the company around and sold it. A bankruptcy could ruin those plans.

Another potential wrinkle could be how willing Nardelli is to operate Chrysler under the thumb of Uncle Sam, particularly since the White House seems to be advocating for bankruptcy.

“I can’t imagine Nardelli will last long,” said one observer.

Nardelli’s intolerance for outsiders second guessing his work is part of what led to his 2007 Home Depot ouster.

“It’s the ultimate irony,” said one of the shareholders who participated in pushing Nardelli out at Home Depot.

“The guy who once told shareholders that they weren’t important enough to be heard is now to be being given the ultimate ultimatum by taxpayers.”